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https://songmeaning.ai/songs/Alan-walker-faded
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Alan Walker's 'Faded' communicates the deep sense of loss and yearning for a connection that has diminished or perhaps was never fully realized. The lyrics take listeners on a journey through the emotional landscape of someone grappling with the absence of a significant other, possibly a romantic partner or a treasured companion, who has become distant or is no longer present. The song's chorus alludes to the mythical city of Atlantis, suggesting a longing for something that is now lost and unreachable, as the protagonist questions the reality of the connection while feeling lost and faded.
The emotional journey of 'Faded' begins with a haunting sense of nostalgia, as Alan Walker sets a tone of remembrance for something or someone that once provided light and direction. This initial verse introduces listeners to a sense of something missing, the 'shadow' that once accompanied the protagonist's 'light,' invoking a feeling that something treasured has slipped away. However, it's not just the absence that is troubling; it's the fear that their collective goals may now be unattainable, and this obsession is yearned to be reignited.
As the pre-chorus comes in, Alan Walker delivers a haunting repetition of the question, 'Where are you now?' which embodies the core of the emotional journey—searching. The questioning becomes more profound when the lyrics consider if the entire experience was merely a figment of the protagonist's imagination, a fantasy not rooted in reality. This wrestle with uncertainty and self-doubt contributes to the internal turmoil and amplifies the feeling of solitude and confusion.
The chorus of 'Faded' offers an infusion of mythical imagery, referencing 'Atlantis, under the sea.' Here the emotional journey plunges into deeper waters, symbolizing a descent into the subconscious, a place where dreams reside and sometimes where monsters of doubt and fear can run wild. These powerful metaphors represent the inner chaos that overcomes someone who feels they have lost a part of themselves along with the missing person or dream. Alan Walker captures this through the powerful refrain of being 'faded' and 'lost,' echoing the sense of diminishing and being adrift.
In the second verse, the waters mentioned 'never met what I needed,' which speaks to the idea of unfulfilled desires and the need to let go and dive deeper—in a figurative sense, moving past superficial fixes and seeking something more existential and meaningful. The 'eternal silence of the sea' suggests a ghostly tranquility in this hardship, a paradoxical feeling of being at peace yet still suffocated in silence, as if the protagonist is alive but not fully living.
"Atlantis, under the sea, under the sea"
Atlantis is a legendary sunken city, often used as a metaphor for something once great and now lost. In the song, it highlights the unreachable, deeply missed, and possibly idealized past.
"The monster's running wild inside of me"
This line depicts the internal struggle and chaos the narrator feels. The 'monster' may symbolize the overwhelming emotions or unresolved issues that are consuming them.
"I'm breathing, alive"
These words reflect a turning point in the song, where despite the prevailing despair, there is an acknowledgment of life and the potential for overcoming the numbness and pain.
"These shallow waters never met what I needed"
This suggests a dissatisfaction with superficial encounters and a longing for more profound connections or experiences.
